Australia expands security assistance to Philippines to combat extremists

Philippines defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana (L) and Australian defence minister Marise Ann Payne issue a statement during a press conference on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting in Clark, east of Manila, on October 24, 2017. Australia will train Filipino soldiers in urban warfare to combat the spread of extremism, it said. Noel Celis / AFPShow less

Australia on Tuesday announced the expansion of its security support to the Philippines, which will involve training in urban counter-terrorism, to fight the rise and spread of extremism in the region.

The announcement follows the end of the 154-day battle for Marawi city which stunned the Philippine's military inexperienced in urban combat, and fuelled concerns ISIL loyalists wanted to use the southern island of Mindanao as a base for Southeast Asia activity.

The battle for Marawi ended on Monday. Philippines authorities said 920 militants, 165 troops and police and at least 45 civilians were killed in the conflict, which displaced more than 300,000 people.

Australia, along with the US, Singapore and China, provided weaponry and technical support, including surveillance aircraft.

"All nations must learn from the recent Marawi conflict and the Philippines' experience," said Australian defence minister Marise Payne, adding Canberra and Manila will host a post-conflict seminar to learn from the five-month Marawi conflict.

About 80 soldiers from Australia's mobile training team will be deployed in local bases in the Philippines to train army and marine units in urban counter-terrorism warfare, said Ms Payne on the sidelines of an ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting in Clark, a former US air force base.

"The practical training the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) will provide will ensure the Philippines defence force is better able to counter the brutal tactics being employed by terrorists," Ms Payne told a news conference.

"The spread of Daesh-inspired terrorism is a direct threat to Australia and its interests and we are committed to working with our partners and allies to ensuring Daesh cannot establish a geographic foothold in the region."

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Ms Payne said Australia was concerned with ISIL fighters returning from Iraq and Syria to home countries in Southeast Asia and was working closely with Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore to monitor militant movements.

Philippine defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in the same briefing the government had been provided by Kurdish intelligence, through Manila's embassy in Baghdad, with a list of Indonesians, Malaysians and a few Filipinos who might return home.

Mr Lorenzana said the Philippines and Australia are now reviewing the deployment of surveillance planes, which flew four times a week over Marawi since late June.

Apart from urban warfare training, Australia will also enhance provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability, share information and intelligence and strengthen maritime security engagement and bilateral maritime patrols.

An increasing number of Australian warships are expected to make visits to Manila. Canberra is also emerging to be the top source of education and training for local troops.